Loading



v Patented luly 26, 189 8. s. B. KENFIELDK; c. ELVIDGE. 2LOADINGAPPLIANCE.

(Applicationfiled. Oct. 11, 1897.)

s sheets-sh ei 2.

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CALIFORNIA.

LOADING APPLIANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 608,142, dated July 26,1898.,

Application filed October 11, 1897. Serial No. 654,876. (No model.)

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that we, STEPHEN B. KENFIELD and CHARLES ELVID GE, citizensof the United States, residing at San Francisco,in the county of SanFrancisco and State of Oalifornia,have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Loading Appliances; and we do here by declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of said invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it most nearlyappertains to make, use, and practice the same.

This invention relates to improvements in loading and unloadingappliances.

It consists in the novel construction and arrangement of the variousparts whereby deep-sea vessels may be loaded while at an.- chorage andat a considerable distance from the shore without pier construction orother wharfage.

It further consists in a novel construction and arrangement by means ofwhich the load may be carried out to the end of the delivery withoutnecessitating the erection of tall hoisting structures on the shore.

It further consists in a construction and arrangement whereby thecarrying-cable and the propelling-lines may be lengthened or shortenedwithout requiring any change in the construction of the propellingmechanism; and it further consists in the novel construction andarrangement of the parts whereby the raising and lowering of the load onthe shore is accomplished by the raising and lowering of thecarrying-cable.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the invention inoperation. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, enlarged,of the driving mechanismand the structure on shore for suspending the carrying-cable and raisingand lowering the same above the loadingplatform. Fig. 3 is a plan viewof the driving mechanism. Fig. tis anenlarged detail View of the outwardend of the carrying-cable, showing the means of connecting it to theanchored cable and the pulley over which the far end of thepropelling-line is compelled to operate and also the carriage in itsouter position. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the drivingdrums, showing theinterlaced winding of the adding to the letter common to that group anumeral.

Thus the carrying-cable upon which the loaded carriage runs intransmitting the load to or from the vessel we will designate by theletter A, the stop-blocks or buil'ers at either end of the travel by theletters A A The raising and lowering mechanism by means of which thecarriage is lowered or depressed to the load and is raised with the loadafter being secured theretowe will designate by the letter 13, and thedrum by means of which the raising and lowering are accomplished we willdesignate by the letterB. The carriage upon which the load is caused'totravel to and from the vessel we will distinguish by the letter C, whilethe propelling-line will be distinguished bythe letter O, and the drumsupon which the same is wound and unwound we will distinguish by theletters 0 C This invention is designed as a loading device to loadvessels while at anchorage at a distance from the shore. For thispurpose the cable A is provided, which is of sufficient length to extendfrom the shore outward to the vessel when lying in the desiredanchorage. When not in use, it, the cable, is wound upon the drum Awhich is mounted in suitable framework and securely anchored. The

cable A is drawn back or inshore until the buffer A is drawn against thebuffer A, with the interposed carriage C between, and the wholesuspended from the raising and lowering blocks 13.

At the anchorage which is provided for vessels it is designed that thevessel should take up a position between the extremes of the cable. Forthis purpose the cable A is anchored seaward considerably beyond theanchorage of the vessel and is secured to a float or other suitabledevice to prevent its sinking when not in operation. On coming to theanchorage for the vessel the end of the cable A which is attached to theanchor is caught Y and drawn on board the vessel. In the meantime a boatis sent ashore for the purpose of bringing out the end of the cable Acarrying the pulley A over which the propelling-rope O is run. The endof the cable A is provided with suitable hooks A, into which a hook,generally called grab-hook, on the end of the cable A is connected onboard the vessel. The vessel is suitably rigged with a hoisting-tacklesuspended between the masts of the vessel, which is connected to thelink A on the block A which is raised thereby to the desired height fromthe deck of the vessel. While this adjustment on board the vessel isbeing made, the cable A is maintained partially slack. \Vhen, however,the block A is raised, as described, the drum A is rotated to take inthe slack of the cable A and render it as taut as desirable. WVhen theend of the cable is carried out, as described, the carriage C isretained in position against the block A, so that the propelling-line Ohas been carried out with the pulley A The block A is provided with acentral perforation through which the cable A is loosely extended, so astobe carried out and drawn back without interference by the block A. Theblock A is mounted on the end of a swingin g scantling or frame A whichextends back to the upright or frame X, which is erected to support theraising and lowering mechanism B. It is by means of this frame A thatthe block A is maintained in this position, and the blow of thereturning carriage is transferred from the said block to the structureX. WVhen the cable A has been extended across the vessel and drawn tautby the drum A it is still found that by the weight of the cable and thelength of the space there is considerable slack, which sags the cablebetween the pulley A on the frame X, over which it rests at the highestpoint inshore, and the link A by means of which it is hoisted to thishighest point 011 the vessel. By reason of this sag the cable swingsnear the platform Y, so that any load which is resting thereon maybecaught up by the carriage O and secured to the hook 0 thereof.

The carriage O is constructed to have two carrying-wheels C Cflwhich areplaced in line with each other to travel upon the carryingcable A. Theyare pivotally mounted in a hanger-frame G which is dropped down oneither side of the cable in the form of a stirrup. Directly beneath thecable A the frame 0 has between its sides pivotally mounted the idlers CC, which prevent the forward and backward rocking of the carriage uponthe cable. Below the line of the bearings of the idlers O 0' there issuspended between the frames 0 the friction-pulley 0 whose office is tocarry the weight of the returning branch of the propelling-line C and tohelp to support the said line midway between the outer and the inner endof the reach. At the lower extremity of the frame is suspended the hook0 upon which the load is secured. To the two opposite sides of theframe, preferably below the center of the friction-wheel 0 are providedthe attaching devices or loops O 0 the former being connected to the endof the extension of the propelling-line which draws the carriage outwardtoward the pulley A on the block A and the latter to that end of theextension of the propelling-line which draws the carriage toward theblock A at the shore end of the travel. By means of this construction avery compact and strong carriage is obtained.

'When the load is securely fastened to the carriage O, the raisingmechanism B is oper ated to raise the block A to lift the cable A, andwith it the carriage O, and the load fastened thereto clear of theplatform. The raising and lowering mechanism consists of an ordinaryblock and tackle hung upon the framework of the scaffolding X at theforward extension of the same, and a hoistingrope B is led back to thedrum 13, mounted on the shaft of the driving mechanism.

When the mechanism which operates the drum B is set in action, it isoperated to draw upon the rope B and thereby raise the block A,with thecarriage O and the load, as described. When the block A and the carriagehave been raised, the carriage 0 tends to run down the incline of thecable A. This it may be permitted to do by throwing off the engineswhich are attached to the driving mechanism of drums O 0 over which thecontinuous propelling-line O is wound.

If the carriage be permitted to run free, as described, it will continueuntil checked by the upgrade of the cable,which is caused by the sag init. From this point it would become necessary to draw the load outwardto the vessel. This is accomplished by means of the engines D D,whichare operating upon the driving-shaft D to drive through the pinions D Dthe gear-Wheels D D on the shafts D D and by winding on the drums O andO the propelling-line O to carry the carriage outward to the vesseluntil it reaches the buffer A upon which the blow is received. Whenarrived in this position, the load is lowered on the deck. of the vesselby means of the hoisting-tackle, by means of which the jointed ends ofthe two cables A and A have been raised. When the load is deposited onthe deck of the vessel and the hitchings released, the block A is raisedon the vessel to its normal position, and the engines of the propellingmechanism on shore,

which have been brought to a rest while unloading on board the vessel,are now reversed, driving the propelling-lines in the opposite directionand compelling the carriage to travel up the incline of the cable untilit reaches the block A, when the engines are again stopped. In thisposition the parts are in their initial position, from whence theoperation above described is repeated.

The driving mechanism by means of which the raising and lowering deviceand the carriage are operated consists vof the drum B and the twin drumsC C The drum B is provided with a friction-clutch B by means of which itis compelled to travel with the shaft D upon which it is. looselymounted. It is further provided with the flange B upon which is fittedan ordinary band-brake. (Not shown in the drawings.) It'is by means ofthis band-brake that the drum B is arrested and maintained in anyposition. Upon the same shaft D are mounted the drum 0 loosely and thegear D rigidly. This gear is meshed with the small pinion D which isrigidly secured to the driving-shaft D, upon which the engines D Doperate.

The drum 0 is mounted in line with the drum 0 upon a shaft D to which itis rigidly secured. The shaft is provided with a large gear D of anequal diameter to the gear D and is similarly engaged to a pinion D onthe driving-shaft D. The pinion D however, is

loosely mounted upon the shaft to run independent] y thereof, exceptwhen locked by means of the clutch D ,which is splined upon the saiddriving-shaft.

From the side of the driving-drum O is extended a flange C to receive aband-brake similar to that with which the drum B is pro vided and forthe same purpose. Both of the said band-brakes are spring-actuated torelease the drums and are provided with suitable connections extendingto foot-operated levers at any convenient point for the engineer oroperator; Both clutches B and D are provided with suitable operatingconnections reaching to the station of the engineer or operator.

It will be observed that by means of the mechanism above described themachine while being continuouslyoperated may be controlled to accomplishtwo distinct operations that of propelling the carriage C to and fromthe vessel and that of raising and lowering the cable A and load at thepoint of the inner limit of the travel of the carriage G-both whichoperations are controlled by the several devices herein called clutchesand bandbrakes, the former causing the several parts to be moved and thelatter arresting the movement.

In Figs. 5, G, and 7 are shown three forms of propelling-drums which areused by us in this invention. In Figs. 5 and 6 the drums are alternativeand differ only in that on the drums shownin Fig. 5 the windings of thecable are alternately carried from the bottom of the one drum to the topof the other, forming in the space between the twodrums an interlacedappearance, as seen in Fig. 3. This is the preferred construction byreason of the fact that the cable in passing about the drum comes incontact with more of the surface of the drum and obtains a greaterfriction thereon. These drums differ from that shown in Fig. 6 only inthe manner of applying the propelling-line thereto, in the latter itbeing wound straight around both drums that is, from the top of the onedrum it extends directly to the top of the other and from thebottom ofthe one to the bottom of the other. These drums may or may not beconnected by means of the connecting-gear O, which is shown in Fig. 6,its purpose being to compel the one drum to travel in exact time withthe other drum.

By the employment of the twin drums C C we are enabled to change thelength of the propelling-line 0 without changing the construction or thewrappings upon the said drums. These drums are provided withcircumferential grooves adapted to receive the wrappings of thepropelling-line and maintain the one wrap separate from the other toprevent wear. of the line upon itself and also the tendency of the onewrapto ride upon the other. The windings upon the said drum 0 C beingtransferred from the one drum to the other maintain constantly theirposition upon the one drum without friction upon the cable or anytendency on the part of the line to ride upon itself. When, however, thelength of the cable A is constant and the lengthening and shortening ofthe deliveryline are not changed, we sometimes use the single drum 0(Shown in Fig. 7.) This drum is provided with a spiral groove aroundwhich the propelling-line C is wound two or three times.

It will be observed. that as the line is paid outin the one direction orin the other the position of the windings of the propellingline on thedrum will change its position laterally. This drum becomes inconvenientand impracticable in the event of the deliverypoint or the anchorage ofthe vessel being extended at a greater distance than the calculatedcapacity or lateral movement of the windings on the drum. Afurtherinconven:

ience in regard to this drum (shown in Fig.

7) is the length of the drum, which has to be provided to accommodatethe travelof the said windings.

WVhen the vessel has been loaded or discharged, the carriage O is drawninto shore, and the cable A is slacked by releasing the drum A on shoreuntil it is possible to unhook theanchor-chain from the hook A at theend of the cable. The end of the cable A is now carried on shore and theanchorcable A is released, to be supported on the float which isprovided for it.

Having thus described this invention, it is claimed 1. In a loadingappliance, the combination with acarrying-cable extended from the shoreout into thesea and anchored at both ends, and provided with suitableattachments whereby it may be raised at the points of anchorage of thevessel to be loaded, to extend across the deck of the said vessel; of acarriage adapted to run upon the said cable with a suspended load; acontinuous propelling-line the ends of which are secured to both sidesof the said carriage, and the one extension of which is supported upon apulley at the vessel; and a driving mechanism provided with a drum uponwhich the said propolling-line is wound, substantially as described.

2. In a loading appliance, the combination with the carrying-cableextended from the shore outward to a vessel lying at anchor; of a cableprovided with an anchor and adapted to be connected with the end of thesaid carrying-cable and to be hoisted therewith above the deck of thesaid vessel, and a carriage adapted to run upon the said cable with asuspended load; a continuous propellingline the ends of which aresecured to the said carriage; a pulley secured to the said vessel toreceive the said propelling-line beyond the said carriage; and a drivingmechanism provided with a drum upon which the said propelling-line iswound to compel the two extensions of the said propelling-line to travelalternatelyinward and outward substantially as described.

3. In a loading appliance, the combination with a carrying-cableextended from the shore and anchored out at sea, and provided withsuitable attachments whereby it may be raised at an intermediate pointto extend across the deck of a vessel; of a carriage adapted to run uponthe said cable with a suspended load; and a continuous propelling-linethe ends of which are secured to the said carriage; a pulley attached atthe delivery end to the said cable to carry the one extension of thesaid propellingline; a driving mechanism provided with twin drumsadapted to receive the wrappings of the propelling-line, substantiallyas described.

4:. In a loading appliance, the combination with a carrying-cableextended from the shore and anchored, and provided with a suitableattachment whereby it may be raised at an intermediate point to extendacross the deck of a vessel; a carriage adapted to run upon the saidcable with a suspended load; a continuous propelling-line the ends ofwhich are secured to the said carriage; a pulley attached to the saidcable at the delivery end to carry the one extension of the saidpropelling-line; a driving mechanism provided with a drivingdrum adaptedto receive the wrappin gs of the said propelling-line to wind and unwindthe same in alternately opposite directions; and an undriven drumadapted to receive part of the wrappings of the said propelling-line andto cooperate with the said driving-drum to receive the saidpropelling-line constantly at one point while delivering it constantlyat another point, substantially as described.

5. In a loading appliance, the combination with a carrying-cableextended from the shore and anchored, and provided with a suitableattachment whereby it may be raised at an intermediate point to extendacross the deck of a vessel; a carriage adapted to run upon the saidcable with a suspended load; a continuous propelling-line the ends ofwhich are secured to the said carriage; a pulley attached to the saidcable at the delivery end to carry the one extension of the saidpropelling-line; a driving mechanism provided with a driving-drum havingon its surface a series of parallel grooves to receive and separate thewrappings of the propelling-line and adapted to wind and unwind the samein alternately opposite directions; and an undriven drum the surface ofwhich is provided with a series of parallel grooves similar to those onthe said driving-drum, and being located in line with the driving-drumso that the ridges between the grooves of the undriven drum are oppositethe center of the grooves in the drivingdrum, substantially asdescribed, whereby the propelling-line may be wound alternately upon thetwo drums to change the direction of the travel of the said line,without changing its point of entrance or exit from the saiddriving-drum, substantially as described.

6. In a loading appliance, the combination with a carrying-cableextended from the shore outward to a vessel lying at anchor; of a cableprovided with an anchor beyond the said vessel and adapted to beconnected with the end of the said carrying-cable and to be hoistedtherewith above the deck of the said vessel; an anchored rotary drumadapted to draw the said carrying-cable and wind the same upon itself;substantially as described.

7. In a loading appliance, the combination with the carrying-cableextended from the shore outward to a vessel lying at anchor; of a cableanchored beyond the said vessel and adapted to be connected with the endof the said carrying-cable and be hoisted therewith, above the deck ofthe said vessel; a carriage adapted to run upon the said cable with asuspended load; acontinuous propelling-line the ends of which aresecured to the said carriage and the one extension of which is supportedupon a pulley at the vessel; a driving mechanism provided with a drumupon which the said propelling-line is wound and adapted to wind andunwind the said propelling-line in alternately opposite directions; anda hoisting mechanism engaging the said carryingcable over theloading-point adapted to raise and lowerthe same to allow the saidcarriage to be secured to the load prior to hoisting the same,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 1st day ofOctober, 1897.

STEPHEN B. KENFIELD. CHARLES ELVIDGE.

Witnesses BALDWIN VALE, v MAYNARD HARRIEs.

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